Since I've been to all three YearlyKos/Netroots Nation conventions, I can say that it has become almost a ritual.
Those of us in labor scratch our heads wondering why bloggers don't seem to read our diaries and send us to the top of the rec list.
"If they really care about labor, why doesn't the Netroots get more excited about our issues?" we ask.
Meanwhile, bloggers outside labor wonder what they can do to help us. Everyone I run into loves Labor, or at least recognizes how a strong labor movement helps the Progressive movement in general and, more specifically, Progressive candidates.
"How can we engage labor?" they ask. "What can we do to gain labor's support?"
Well, after three years at this sixth-grade dance -- where the boys and girls are still wondering if they should wait for the next song -- I think it's time to shake it up.
So, bloggers, wanna dance?
Heading back from Austin, I did a mental recap of the convention. I didn't get to many panels. I tried to hit the big events. But I did get a chance to talk to a lot of great people and meet up with old friends.
The ideas and suggestions that follow came from those conversations and suggestions. Rather than embarrass myself or others who may have been speaking off the record, I am not going to attribute these ideas anyone specifically. Many folks, not surprisingly suggested some of the same things. And besides, after four daze of margaritas, BBQ and live music my memory's a little fuzzy.
But I do want to be clear: I am playing the part of facilitator, not instructor. This is a soup of ideas and suggestions that I will attribute generally to some of the best minds in the Netroots community. I certainly don't have all the answers, and this needs to be an ongoing discussion.
Organize the bloggers
"What we need to do is organize the bloggers."
The idea is to create a small group of bloggers in one pilot community to volunteer to work with unions in that geographic area.
I immediately loved this idea and here's why:
- Local unions are hungry for web skills.
- Local unions are very insular. But by introducing the groups under the auspices of information exchange, we begin relationships. And with those relationships come dialog and trust.
- While we have many national issues, our most compelling stories occur on the local level.
- By familiarizing themselves with labor, more bloggers would become advocates as well as supporters. Not only on local and state labor issues, but on national issues such as the Employee Free Choice Act as well.
The blogger who launched this idea has volunteered to get the ball rolling in Southern California. If you're interested, let me know and I'll pass along your information. Once we have the bloggers lined up, I will reach out to the locals to try to schedule a meeting.
Also, this doesn't have to be limited to one union. I would like to start small, and build, but if the interest is as strong as I suspect it is, then I could easily see this mushrooming very quickly with groups popping up across the country.
Make the introduction fun
At Maggie Maes, in between the sets Zydaco, someone suggested that we make the initial introduction informal and fun. It would be less intimidating that way -- for people on both sides of the introduction. So what organization now has chapters in all 50 states, is progressive and likes to drink? Hmmmm.
I spoke with Justin Krebs of Drinking Liberally as he was rushing back to the conference from a wedding. A little out of breath, we agreed to talk when we got back. We discussed the question last year and he offered Drinking Liberally as a venue then. Unfortunately, nothing gelled.
Show us how to do it Old School
Saturday evening, the question came up at a brief gathering of blogger friends. A few had labor ties, but the rest were mostly political activists. So I threw out the question again.
"We need labor to show us the old school techniques. Tell us how to phone bank. Show us how to canvas."
Wow, I was dumbfounded. Really? It seemed so obvious. I quickly agreed to help organize a panel next year on what labor can teach the Netroots. So go ahead and put it on the suggestion list.
We (labor) would bring in the people that organize the canvases, who do the phone banking, who organize marches and mass demonstrations and explain how to take your online discussion into offline action.
Branch out
It was suggested that the representatives of labor should make a push to attend the state caucus meetings next year and encourage the bloggers to reach out to their local labor officials. Perhaps by next year, we'll have a proven track record on how to build these bridges.
Include the pols
Finally, it was suggested to reach out to the politicians who are familiar and friendly with both groups. Besides making the introduction, it focuses energy on a specific campaign. I don't know what the rules are on something like that. I'm sure introductions and common cause would be fine, but we'd have to be careful about coordinating with campaigns. The FEC doesn't care for that.
Your thoughts?
If you have ideas, I would love to hear them. I could only talk to so many people and I'm sure there are many more out there.
All I've got to say is that this attraction has to happen. Labor needs to catch up when it comes to online organizing, and we need to get our messages out. And it appears that many in the Netroots are interested in learning from and supporting unions. Together we could be powerful allies.
I'm a little ashamed that it's been a year since we rolled the trucks into McCormick Place and talked about working together. Let's not waste another year. Let's keep talking and start doing.
In solidarity.